Houston weather conditions ripe for funnel clouds, broiling heat

Updated 10:45 am, Wednesday, July 10, 2013

More broiling heat is on tap for the Houston region through out much of the week as a ridge of high pressure remains above the area.

The region may get a slight break from the searing heat by the weekend.

The high temperatures will likely be in the mid to upper 90s for much of the week and the lows will be in the upper 70s, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said high humidity likely will send the heat index into the triple digits for at least a few days.

On Wednesday, the high will be likely be near about 95 degrees under sunny skies. The heat index – how hot the air feels when temperatures and humidity combine – will be about 102.

A slight chance for isolated showers or thunderstorms may be possible, but it is difficult to determine where they may strike, said Lance Wood, a meteorologist with the weather service.

Forecasters said also conditions could be ripe for funnel clouds throughout the day. One was spotted in Santa Fe about 9:40 a.m.

Forecasters said these tropical funnel clouds likely have a low chance of touching down but should be monitor because they could reach the surface as weak tornadoes.

The high will be about 96 degrees on Thursday. The low will be about 76. The high Friday may top out near 99 under sunny skies.

Wood said an upper-level low may help break the heat slightly on the weekend. The system could help clouds build over the region and may bring rainfall to the area, possibly keeping high temperatures in the mid to lower 90s for a few days.

In the tropics, Tropical Storm Chantal may be becoming less organized, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm was located 200 to 150 miles south of Puerto Rico, where a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect. A Tropical Storm Watch was issued for the central Bahamas.

The storm has sustained winds of about 45 mph and it is moving west-northwest at about 29 mph. Forecasters said the center of the storm is very disorganized.